A FORMER policeman, writer and community campaigner has died aged 79.

Ken Westell, of Kilworth Avenue, Southend, passed away following a battle with colon cancer on October 14.

A prolific letter writer to the Echo on everything from elitism in grammar schools to the Tories’ “well-deserved political oblivion,” in May, he was also chairman of the Save Our Seashore campaign, which campaigned against a supercasino being built in Westcliff.

Born in East London, he joined the joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in 1956, just as the Suez Crisis was heating up, and was stationed in the Egyptian port from 1960 before being posted to Singapore in 1962, where he would stay until 1967.

During his time abroad, his parents Frank and Lily had moved to Wentworth Road, Southend.

Ken met wife Jean at the Kursaal during shore leave, before the couple married in St John’s Church and moved into Kilworth Gardens.

In 1975, he left the Navy and joined the Ministry of Defence Police, working with the Metropolitan Police and at RAF Greenham Common before being stationed to Foulness Island from 1984.

He retired in 1995, five weeks before his full 20 years’ service, following a heart attack.

In his retirement, he threw his energy into community campaigns, such as ridding York Road of prostitutes and drug dealers, and the Save Our Seashore group.

However, he also developed his creative side, publishing a number of novels from 2005 – though he had always had a knack for writing and used to ghost-write fellow sailors’ letters in exchange for rum during his time at sea.

He was also a founder member of writing circle Seven Pens Press, a group of Essex short story writers, who self-published books for local charities.

He is survived by his wife, son Frank, daughter Emma, grandson Phineas, brother David, and niece Holly.

His funeral takes place today at Southend Crematorium from 2pm.